This weekend sees the launch of 40 homes here, and joint selling agents Hooke & MacDonald and Lisney of Cork, are expecting strong interest.

Developed by Pierse Homes and Firestone Developments Ltd, building work has started at Eden, and the first units are due to be ready from late summer onwards.

A landmark site, Eden has been designed by architects O'Mahony Pike in such a way that preserves many of the old features on site. Yet homes will be very contemporary in style, and finished in a mix of brick and render with timber windows.

Overlooking the water in Blackrock village, it is very close to the city centre and for this reason much interest is expected.

Blackrock village has plenty of shops and local amenities, including the shopping centre and the newly refurbished neo-Gothic castle which is set to house an astronomy centre. Future plans for the village include a regeneration programme, with a new public park and recreational area.

Houses will have large bay windows, sunrooms and courtyard-style gardens, while apartments will have large windows with decentsized balconies or terraces.

Apartments will be in a separate area of the development, just south of the old convent buildings, and all apartment blocks will surround the landscaped gardens and water fountain.

Units are selling from plans, and available in this phase are a mix of two-, three- and four-bed homes.

Two-bed apartments range in size from 70 to 75sq m (750 to 805sq ft), while two-bed duplexes are from 86 to 105sq m (925 to 1,130sq ft). Threebed duplexes average 110sq m (1,180sq ft), while four-bed houses are around 165sq m (1,775sq ft).

Houses are bright and open-plan with a spacious kitchen cum diningroom forming an L-shape by opening into the livingroom.

N1 CMYK Price: two-bed apartments from 350,000, two-bed duplexes from 370,000, three-bed duplexes from 470,000 and four-bed houses from 582,500 Agents: Hooke & MacDonald 01-6318402 and Lisney Cork 021-4275079 All homes come with fitted solid wood kitchens with black granite worktops and integrated appliances, and fitted wardrobes in bedrooms, while other standard features will include recessed down-lighters in kitchens, bathrooms and en suites, and gas-fired central heating.